Bea
Paine has achieved some truly significant honors as a Rotarian. Among them is
the fact that she is the second woman to become a member of the Rotary Club of
Bluefield. She was also the second woman Governor in District 7550.Member Profile By James H. Shott, III
June 30, 2005
Bea Carmines Paine
Bea
Paine has achieved some truly significant honors as a Rotarian. Among them is
the fact that she is the second woman to become a member of the Rotary Club of
Bluefield. She was also the second woman Governor in District 7550.
Born in Poquoson, Va., Bea was an Graduate Nurse in the OR at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond when she met hubby Jim, who was in his EENT residency program. They married in 1949, and in 1952 came to Bluefield with their young daughter. Bea and Jim had four more children after moving to Bluefield. Daughter Teresa is a marriage and family counselor here in Bluefield, while daughter Pamela is an architect in Richmond. Two of their three sons are nearby, Patrick (William) lives here in Bluefield, and Jim, Jr. practices in Beckley. Son John lives in Fairfax, Va. Bea and Jim boast eight grandchildren.
Bea joined Rotary in November of 1987. Just four years later she achieved yet another honor, being voted Rotarian of the Year. And in 1996-97, Bea served as President of the Bluefield Club.
On the value of Rotary and what has been most meaningful to her, Bea said "being a nurse, I always wanted to serve people. I think Rotary is a wonderful outlet for that." As District Governor in 2000-2001 she headed up a project to provide hearing aids to people in need. Other members of the Bluefield Club helped with the project by traveling to Yeager and meeting with the prospective recipients, and hubby Jim, though retired from practice, became interested in the project and did the hearing tests. They worked out an arrangement with a manufacturing company to donate the hearing aids. As a result, as many as 40 people with hearing defects received hearing aids.
As Governor, Bea and Jim visited most of the District clubs together. "It was real meaningful because Jim went with me to almost all the District club meetings. The meetings Jim couldn't attend, Jim Godwin attended with me," she related. "Jim (Godwin) is a very special person because he is the one that nominated me (for District Governor). I nominated John Beckett. I think he's the best District Governor we've ever had."
Bea likes the familiarity of Rotary. When members call each other by their first names, she said, it creates a familiarity and a balance among members that otherwise might not exist because of people's positions in their professional lives.
Bea extends her desire to help people by being active with church projects, and she particularly likes visiting with homebound persons. Bea has also been an active proponent in the Rotary Student Exchange.
Our club is fortunate indeed to have someone of Bea Paine's character and enthusiasm as a member.